CHARLES Chocolates has renewed its partnership with the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) for the 2026 Schoolboy Football Competition.

This reinforces the company’s long-standing relationship with communities across Jamaica, and its commitment to youth development and celebrating young talent through sport.

Recognised as one of the premier youth sporting events in the region, ISSA schoolboy football is more than just a competition. It’s a cultural celebration that unites players, families, and fans in a shared expression of Jamaican pride and passion.

As part of the collaboration, one of Charles Chocolates’s most beloved brands, Ping Pong, will take centre stage throughout the season.

Charles Chocolates is proud to support the schools, ISSA, and the wider initiative of bringing schools together through football. Beyond the competition, the programme provides young players with an opportunity to learn, develop, and grow both on and off the field while encouraging the importance of balance between working hard, playing hard, and enjoying the moments in-between, and these treats are a small way of adding to that match day experience.

Raymon Brahim, country sales manager for Confectionery & Snacks (CSJ), distributors of Charles Chocolates, is pleased with the partnership with ISSA and is looking forward to accelerating the company’s presence throughout the season.

“We’ve taken part to give more in our second year by going in with a brand that is loved by the kids of schoolboy football. Football is the number one sport, and Ping Pong is the number one brand, so the alignment comes together as one. As schoolboy football goes into the communities we will be there with them, bringing more interaction and giveaways, because it’s a nice marriage. It goes together,” said Brahim.

Keith Wellington, president of ISSA, shared his enthusiasm for the renewed collaboration.

“We value this partnership with Charles Chocolates. They did very well last year in engaging the young people in the competition and the communities that we went into. The fact that they felt confident enough to come back a second year, we are really pleased with the support. The support of a company like Charles Chocolates says to me that corporate Jamaica has a lot of respect for us, and when you look at what we do in terms of our involvement with young people, it also says that Ping Pong is a socially conscious brand. They’re interested in young people, and we are always happy to partner with companies like that,” Wellington said.

Shantavia Samuels, brand manager for Charles Chocolates, reflected on the brand’s involvement over the past season.

“Our experience was incredible last year. We not only supported the schools but we also engaged with communities, and the energy was unmatched. This year we are looking forward to being innovative and finding new ways to engage with the communities,” said Samuels.